Coaches and team cheer on the Gusties during day two at the MIAC Championships. (Photo courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC)
SESSION THREE RESULTS | SESSION FOUR RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s swimming and diving team remained in second place with 398 points after day two at the MIAC Championships, highlighted by the performance of Tanner Sonnek (So., North Mankato, Minn.).
“Another great day for the Gusties, I was proud of the way everybody competed,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. “There is just a certain energy that the team has that is carrying us through each session. They have fed off each other and get after each race. It is very evident that they are swimming not just for their own improvement, but for the team.”
Sonnek began the Gusties’ morning preliminary session on a strong note, posting a NCAA Selection time of 55.17 to lead the men’s 100-yard breaststroke.
He then improved on that time in the evening final session, breaking a meet record with a winning NCAA Selection Time of 55.10 and earning all-conference honors.
“His swim in the 100 breaststroke was unbelievable,” said Carlson on Sonnek. “We were so pumped for him to break the conference record. He has earned it. He is a hard-worker, is very diligent, and prepares for his races well.”
Another individual all-conference time came from Matt Allison (Fy., Grand Rapids, Minn.). Allison raced to a second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, coming in at 1:41.30.
Additionally, the Gusties had two relay teams each finish in third place and earn all-conference times. First, the 200-yard medley relay team of Frankie Zobitz (So., White Bear Lake, Minn.), Sonnek, Zach Holman (So., Mayer, Minn.), and Adam Peters (Sr., Montevideo, Minn.) finished at 1:33.96. They were followed by the 800-yard freestyle relay squad of Zach Dawson (Fy., Eagan, Minn.), Allison, Andrew Peters (So., Montevideo, Minn.), and Adam Peters, clocking in a time of 7:01.24.
“It should be a great dog fight between us and St. Olaf,” Carlson spoke about where the men sit heading into the final day. “We knew it was going to come down to this and the team is really jacked for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow marks the final day of the championships with the morning session scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the final session at 6:30 p.m.